I think it should be possible to search by character name. What are your thoughts?
- 5 Posts
- 0 Reply Likes
- optimistic
Posted 3 years ago
Dan Dassow, Champion
- 14359 Posts
- 15171 Reply Likes
Hi Mark D'Arcy,
This is already possible, but is limited to characters with character pages.
1. From the drop down menu next to the search box select Characters. You should see the following:

2. Enter a character name in the box labeled "Find Movies, TV shows, Celebrities and more...", then click the yellow spyglass. For this example I've used the character name Batman. You should see this link:
http://www.imdb.com/find?ref_=nv_sr_fn&q=Batman&s=ch

This is already possible, but is limited to characters with character pages.
1. From the drop down menu next to the search box select Characters. You should see the following:
2. Enter a character name in the box labeled "Find Movies, TV shows, Celebrities and more...", then click the yellow spyglass. For this example I've used the character name Batman. You should see this link:
http://www.imdb.com/find?ref_=nv_sr_fn&q=Batman&s=ch
- 5 Posts
- 0 Reply Likes
Hi Dan
Firstly thanks for your response. I was able to access the character search on mobile device (desktop version). Is there any plan to enable advanced searches on mobile apps?
Mark
Firstly thanks for your response. I was able to access the character search on mobile device (desktop version). Is there any plan to enable advanced searches on mobile apps?
Mark
Dan Dassow, Champion
- 13636 Posts
- 14046 Reply Likes
Hi Mark,
Someone from IMDb's programming development staff will have to answer that question. I am simply a long time user of IMDb and not a staff member.
Someone from IMDb's programming development staff will have to answer that question. I am simply a long time user of IMDb and not a staff member.
Claire, Official Rep
- 1740 Posts
- 1178 Reply Likes
Hello Mark,
Thank you for your feedback regarding the IMDb mobile apps. We'll change this thread to an "Idea" where it can be reviewed by other IMDb users and staff for future consideration.
Please know that we are constantly making updates to our sites and apps, and welcome all feedback from users when considering these changes.
Thanks!
Thank you for your feedback regarding the IMDb mobile apps. We'll change this thread to an "Idea" where it can be reviewed by other IMDb users and staff for future consideration.
Please know that we are constantly making updates to our sites and apps, and welcome all feedback from users when considering these changes.
Thanks!
- 5 Posts
- 0 Reply Likes
- 7 Posts
- 8 Reply Likes
I used to search by character name, but I no longer see the option available. I think it's a good option to have, for example if you want to see who's played a particular historical figure over the years. Or even a major fictional character.
- 1 Post
- 0 Reply Likes
Hi, I research U.S. names and naming trends. IMDB used to provide a character name search, which was very useful for this. For example, the name Tenley suddenly appeared out of the blue on baby name lists at the beginning of the 2000s. Many times when baby names get popular out of the blue, it's due to a character in a movie/tv show. A character search would have revealed that the name was used in the 2001 film "Summer Catch." Currently, you can search for popular characters, like "Spiderman" or "Walter White" and you will eventually get results, but for more vague names like Tenley, the searches are not useful. Previous incarnations of IMDb had this feature! Please bring it back for the sake of name enthusiasts!
Dan Dassow, Champion
- 12948 Posts
- 13134 Reply Likes
Hi Scooter Burch,
IMDb reformulated character pages. For more details please see:
Updates to Characters
As such character searches are not currently available. Until such time as IMDb restores this functionality, you can do a keyword search of IMDb via Google. This is the general format:
site:imdb.com {KeyWord}
Where {KeyWord} is your search term.
For instance if the {KeyWord} is Tenley, enter this in the Google search window:
site:imdb.com Tenley

This is the link for that search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aimdb.com+Tenley&oq=site%3Aimdb.com+Tenley
Many users and I hope the IMDb restores the character search in the near future.
Note: I am a long time user of IMDb, not an IMDb staff member.
IMDb reformulated character pages. For more details please see:
Updates to Characters
As such character searches are not currently available. Until such time as IMDb restores this functionality, you can do a keyword search of IMDb via Google. This is the general format:
site:imdb.com {KeyWord}
Where {KeyWord} is your search term.
For instance if the {KeyWord} is Tenley, enter this in the Google search window:
site:imdb.com Tenley
This is the link for that search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Aimdb.com+Tenley&oq=site%3Aimdb.com+Tenley
Many users and I hope the IMDb restores the character search in the near future.
Note: I am a long time user of IMDb, not an IMDb staff member.
(Edited)
Col Needham, Official Rep
- 6834 Posts
- 4809 Reply Likes
Yes, character searches will be coming back to IMDb. Please see https://getsatisfaction.com/imdb/topics/changes-to-imdb-characters
- 13 Posts
- 2 Reply Likes
This should be a high priority website bug fix. This is a regression bug in an important feature.
I am a retired Software Engineer and UI designer, as well as a retired Professor of Computer Science.
I am a retired Software Engineer and UI designer, as well as a retired Professor of Computer Science.
- 1 Post
- 0 Reply Likes
Amen. I keep checking to see if it has been reinstated. For me, it's the best thing about IMDB, because I do research on name trends (like an above commenter). I'm so irritated that it was taken away.
TonC
Peter, Champion
clore
I miss the character search feature, it was good for checking out all of the actors who have played Sherlock Holmes or how many actresses have played Marilyn Monroe. As the years go on, IMDb keeps taking away features. OK, message boards aren't necessary but the "dB" in "IMdB" refers to data base so why chip away at the usefulness of that feature?
TonC
what's your difinition of "soon" ? Three monhts have past and some features like "character search" are still not restored.
Not that I want to complain, but just to let you know that I'm still longing to see it back. And it appears I'm not the only one. :-)
Another feature I would like to see in the mobile device= when you've found a particular movie, that you can see if that movie is listed or not in my (private) lists.
Thanks & cheers, Ton
Pratyatosa Das
https://www.google.im/search?lr=&hl=en&as_qdr=all&ei=_6vZWpCfCYOijwS286yoAg&q=%22har...
mamapapaxp
In IMDB, the most useful fields are title, year, actor and character, (among a few others, of course.)
Without the ability to search this field, how will the average Joe find out which James Bond film starred 'that bloke who only did the one movie?' Or which Sherlock Holmes film starred the actor who played Doctor Who a couple of times...? Or, what's that film with Wade Wilson in it that ISN'T a Deadpool movie?
People need to know these things. That's why the database was invented.
Under its current stewardship, they should consider renaming it IML - The Internet Movie... List.
Please pass these messages on. You must have access to SOMEBODY, even if only an assistant to the deputy forum liaison, IMDb Antarctic Office...